Sunday our pastor preached on Luke 14:26. Read no further if you don’t want to be convicted.
Trust me. I’m warning you.
This is what that verse says:
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.”
(For the record, the word “hate” doesn’t mean exactly what we would think in today’s time. The actual word really means “to love less.” So basically, Jesus is saying we need to love everything else less than we love Him.)
Obviously I’ve read this verse numerous times over the course of my life and have heard many teachings on it. But this time, it struck me anew.
And as I listened, I began making a mental list of all the things I love more than I love Jesus.
- My children
- My husband
- My family
- My health
- My pride
- My desire to be right
- My hair on a good hair day (Just being real, y’all)
- My skincare routine
- Worship
- Reading
- Food
- Binging TV shows
- Social Media
- Pretty much anything on my phone
- Podcasts
- Music
- Sleep
I could actually keep going but I won’t.
I’m not saying I love all of these at the same time or that I never love Jesus. Because I do love Jesus. But I put all these other things ahead of Him. Maybe not all the time. But, let’s be honest, more often than I care to admit.
I recently heard someone say that an idol is something you give your attention to, and I tend to agree with that. I don’t want these good things (because they are mostly good things) to become idols in my life but I’m afraid they sometimes do.
I give my attention to lots of things that aren’t Jesus.
Tim Timmons, a pastor and worship leader, has this little mantra that I love. He says that we, throughout the day, should breathe in “Jesus” and breathe out “You have my attention.”
You try it.
Breathe in.
Jesus.
Breathe out.
You have my attention.
Isn’t that great?
When something feels overwhelming, I’ll breathe in Jesus and let Him have my attention.
When I really want to reach for my phone, I’ll breathe in Jesus and let Him have my attention.
When my pride in my kids’ accomplishments gets too big, I’ll breathe in Jesus and let Him have my attention.
When I want to zone out and binge the latest show on Netflix, I will breathe in Jesus and let Him have my attention.
Look, I’m not saying I’m perfect at this. In fact, I am learning this – it’s fresh and new for me.
I’m tired. And I get frustrated. And I turn to other things to fill me up.
But those things don’t work.
Ever.
So will you join me? Will you breathe in – Jesus – and breathe out – You have my attention?
Today I encourage you to take an inventory of the things you love more than you love Jesus. Then give those things to Him and just breathe.
Have a great week, friend!